Wildwood Trust: Almost one in five British mammal species under threat from extinction

Almost one in five British mammal species under threat from extinction

Almost one in five of British mammal species face a high risk of extinction, according to the first comprehensive review of their populations for more than 20 years by The Mammal Society and Natural England.

The red squirrel, wildcat and the grey long-eared bat are all now red-listed and facing severe threats to their survival. Other mammals, such as the hedgehog and water vole, have seen their populations plummet by up to 66% over the past 20 years.

Climate change, loss of habitat, use of pesticides and road deaths are all putting pressure on some of the best loved and most recognisable of Britain’s 58 terrestrial mammals.

Wildwood Trust was established as a charity to help save and protect our native British wildlife and has taken part in many ground-breaking conservation projects since its inception in 2002 which include:

The continued breeding of endangered water voles, red squirrels and hazel dormice for reintroduction into various habitats around the UK.
Bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain.
Using wild horses to restore precious nature reserves.
Surveying the harvest mouse, our smallest rodent, in Kent.

This report highlights just how vital our ongoing work is to curb the loss of our native mammals through worsening adversity, and we thank you all for your continued support.

The following information is supplied by the Mammal Society:

Hedgehog – Current estimated population of 522,000 is 66% lower than estimated in the previous comprehensive review in 1995. Hedgehogs are struggling because the insects they prey upon are declining from changes in agricultural practice and pesticide use, human influence through road accidents and loss of nesting habitat.

Red squirrel – There has been marked decline in the distribution of red squirrels since 1995, which has been linked to ever increasing grey squirrel numbers. The invasive species now outnumber the red squirrel 10:1. Disease epidemics, including squirrel pox which is transmitted by grey squirrels, and competition for resources are factors for reducing red numbers as well as an increase in the planting of Sitka spruce trees — native to North America — which are less favourable to red squirrels.

Water vole – From a 1995 population of more than 1 million, water vole numbers now estimated to be just a tenth of that. Threats from the American mink and changes in land management, including wetland drainage, arable cultivation and watercourse canalisation are believed to have been largely responsible for their steep decline.

BBC Breakfast and BBC South East coverage can be watched in the links below.

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ABOUT WILDWOOD

Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. Wildwood is Kent's best British wildlife park. Home to over 200 native animals, past and present and set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more. As one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK, Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain's most threatened wildlife. Wildwood Trust have taken part in many ground-breaking conservation programmes to date, which include, saving the water vole, using wild horses to help restore Kent's most precious nature reserves, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse & red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.